Whenever we catch up with friends and loved ones, we are likely to wish them well, to desire that they have good health, as John does in verse 2. And we tend to rejoice whenever we hear good news about those we love.

But notice what brings John the most joy: he is most interested, not in his readers’ physical health but in their correct knowledge of God (v. 4). He then rejoices that they have put this knowledge into practice, expressing their love for God by loving and caring for those who spread the truth of Christ (v. 5). He is thus much more concerned with their spiritual than with their physical well-being.

So, what about our own priorities? We often inquire about our loved ones’ physical health, but how interested are we in their prayer life or their growth in the doctrines of grace? How many of our own desires for self-improvement revolve around diet and exercise, and how many are instead focused on prayer, study, and service? And when we make our end-of-year gifts, is our main concern that the gospel would go forth in our communities and in our world? Or are we just trying to alleviate human suffering here and now?

So, however helpful it may be to take stock of our waistlines and our time management, let’s also take a look at our relationship with God, the One Who loved us enough to come into our sinful, broken world, the One Who loves us enough to come into our sinful, broken lives to heal us with His truth. And let’s resolve to draw nearer to Him and to others in truth and love and service.

III John (ESV)

The elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth.
2 Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul.
3 For I rejoiced greatly when the brothers came and testified to your truth, as indeed you are walking in the truth.
4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.
5 Beloved, it is a faithful thing you do in all your efforts for these brothers, strangers as they are,
6 who testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God.
7 For they have gone out for the sake of the name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles.
8 Therefore we ought to support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth.
9 I have written something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority.
10 So if I come, I will bring up what he is doing, talking wicked nonsense against us. And not content with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers, and also stops those who want to and puts them out of the church.
11 Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God.
12 Demetrius has received a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself. We also add our testimony, and you know that our testimony is true.
13 I had much to write to you, but I would rather not write with pen and ink.
14 I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face.
15 Peace be to you. The friends greet you. Greet the friends, each by name.